Such a strange feeling. Freedom. The freedom to choose. The ability to enjoy life. The option. Options have always felt like a game of Russian roulette. A choice that could prove fatal. The choices I made always felt like they came with a great price. I spent the weekend on the river. Such a healing place. A beautiful experience with good good friends. Guiding a raft through the many twists and turns the water offers. Quiet still moments of majestic beauty, with moments of adrenaline pumping and exhilarating rapids. The feeling that I actually have what it takes to get down the miles of unknown water. The idea that three other men trust my strength and beauty. The times when I have to surrender to the rivers power and flow. Along for the ride. Such is life. A river of power, beauty and treachery. Trust your gut, follow your heart. God gave us such good hearts. Pure and true hearts that have been riddled with wounds, lies and pain. Its so easy to play it safe. So easy to get comfortable, small and apathetic. The river teaches me that there truly is where way to live. A wild and beautiful adventure. A life worth living. Things happen quickly on the river. So many things to navigate, but surrendering to the rivers wild and untamed flow is such an exercise in faith hope and love. The very thing Jesus invites us into. Faith, the ability to trust, trust that God truly is good. That God actually cares about the little things, the details and has our best in mind. Hope, the ability to dream and imagine. Love, the ability to give and receive. These are the ingredients needed to truly engage the river. They are necessary in navigating a wild and untamed life. The river has taught me so much. Mostly to trust, to linger, to stay present. As we floated by blue Herron, I was struck by its beauty. The power in its wings… it was a gift from God. A quite reminder that God is with us. That God is wild and untamed. That God actually cares. Freedom, true freedom is found in surrender. Surrendering to a greater story. Letting go of control and embracing ones current reality.